LCAA BASKETBALL: Local boys teams look to climb standings

Monday

Dec 9, 2013 at 1:30 PM

By Daily Telegram staff

The three Lenawee County schools in the Lenawee County Athletic Association are hoping to move up the boys basketball standings this year after non-county teams dominated the league play last season. Onsted fared the best with its third-place finish behind Hillsdale and Columbia Central, while Blissfield and Hudson tied for seventh.

Season outlooks follow.

BLISSFIELD: Coach John Vandecaveye calls this team the youngest Blissfield team in 25 years, with three seniors, five juniors and four sophomores.

Providing the most experience will be senior All-County guard Connor Vandecaveye and senior forward Dakota Suiter; along with junior guards Jacob Kopka, Luke Cassaubon and Nick Kopka. From the sophomore class are guard Felipe Cazares and forwards Chase Lievens and Nick Keinath.

Vandecaveye averaged 15 points, 4.3 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game in limited time due to injury last season, and also shot 40 percent from the 3-point line. The Royals played their final eight games with eight players.

“This teams should possess good quickness and skill,” predicted coach Vandecaveye. “We will try to use depth to make our game more up-tempo.”

HUDSON: Six seniors will form the nucleus of coach Wayne Perry’s Hudson Tiger squad, which will look to better its 3-17 record from last season.

Leading the list of returnees for the Tigers is 6-1 senior forward Dan Komarynski, the leading scorer and rebounder last season. He will be joined by classmates Logan Milligan, a three-year starter, as well as 3-point threat Cody Nelson, Austin Scoby, Zach Tanner and Chanler Bernath.

The junior class is represented by Shay McDaniel, who will get the nod at point guard, plus Caleb Thomas, Zach Akers, Zach Luma, McKendry Evans, Matt Pogoreski and Andrew Enerson.

"For us to be successful we have to rebound; our biggest kid is 6-2," said Perry. "We have to play team basketball as there will be 9-10 kids who must contribute. We have made changes both offensively and defensively this year to fit the personnel we have."

ONSTED: The Onsted roster is dotted with players from all four classes, making team chemistry a key factor in determining the success of the Wildcats.

Returning to coach Brad Maska's lineup will be 6-7 senior forward/center Devin Louden, senior forward Alan Mugerdichian, senior guards Cole Weirich and Zach Wertz, and 6-10 sophomore Austin Davis, who was brought up late in the season as a freshman and has continued to improve his game in the offseason.

"This group worked extremely hard in the off-season," said Maska, "as we return Devin Louden, who blocked more than 100 shots the last two years and looks to have another big year aside Austin Davis, who will solidify the two post positions.

"Other post players Alan Mugerdichian and Brian Frieberger are solid players in our post depth. Our guard depth is solid and at the point will be senior Cole Weirich and sophomore Dallas Heidbreder. We look forward to getting better and improving every day and battling against a very deep and tough LCAA."